BMW i5 LWB Bookings Open in India With 669 km Range

BMW India has opened bookings for the i5 Long Wheelbase, the brand's second electric car to be locally produced at its Chennai plant and its first locally assembled electric sedan. Local production should keep it priced below Rs 1 crore, undercutting what a fully imported rival would cost.

Bookings are open across BMW India's authorised dealer network and on the BMW India website.

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Familiar 5 Series Face, Stretched Proportions

The i5 LWB wears the same face as the standard 5 Series, with an illuminated kidney grille, swept-back twin-pod LED headlamps with DRL signatures, and a lower bumper with an air dam and subtle air curtains at each corner. The side is where the stretch is most obvious, with longer rear doors, a clean unbroken window line running the full length of the car, and a "5" badge on the C-pillar.

At the rear, slim horizontal taillamps sit at each corner with a clean, unfussy boot lid between them.

At 5,175 mm long with a 3,105 mm wheelbase, it is 100 mm longer than the standard i5 in both overall length and wheelbase, and the longest sedan in its segment. Additionally, BMW has fitted adaptive rear-axle air suspension and claims the ground clearance has been increased, addressing a real criticism of the standard i5, which was found prone to scraping on speed breakers in earlier testing.

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Interior

Inside, the i5 LWB includes powered front seats, a Bowers and Wilkins surround sound system, dual-zone climate control for the rear, a 360-degree camera, and a 14.9-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch driver's display.

The rear cabin is where the LWB makes its case, as the 3,105 mm wheelbase translates into much more knee room and headroom than any standard-wheelbase rival in this bracket, and the dual-zone climate control for the back seat underlines that this car is built with rear passengers as the priority rather than an afterthought.

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Powertrain and Range

Power comes from a single 268 hp electric motor that does 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds, backed by an 81.6 kWh battery with a claimed 669 km MIDC range. This is the eDrive 35L setup, meaning it is rear-wheel drive and the entry powertrain in the i5 lineup globally, though BMW India is not offering any higher variant here.

The 669 km figure is an MIDC number, so real-world range will be lower depending on speed and usage, but it is still among the better on-paper numbers in this segment.

Only 99 Units of the Launch Edition

At launch, BMW India is offering a First Edition limited to 99 customers. It adds a rear-seat entertainment setup with a tablet and holder, Individual Silver Bronze interior accents, Fineline open-pored wood trim with Silver Bronze inlay, and a laser-engraved "FIRST EDITION" on the dashboard trim.

Externally, it comes in Carbon Black Metallic with Titanium Bronze accents.

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Rivals

The most direct electric rival is the Lexus ES500e, which also targets rear-seat buyers but comes as a full import with a dual-motor AWD setup and a slightly shorter 580 km claimed range. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class remains the segment benchmark in terms of volumes, though it sells on diesel and petrol rather than electric.

Image Source: BMW PressClub India